Hybridization is strongly constrained by salinity during secondary contact between silverside fishes (Odontesthes, Atheriniformes).

ABSTRACT: This study investigates a contact zone between two silverside fish species (marine Odontesthes argentinensis and freshwater O. bonariensis) in the estuarine Mar Chiquita lagoon along the Atlantic coast in Argentina (MChL), in which intermediate morphs had been reported. It has been suggested that admixture and introgression occur in MChL between these two species, but direct genetic evidence is lacking. Leveraging samples collected over several years (n = 676), we document the spatial distribution of both species and intermediate morphs within this habitat and collect landmark-based morphometric and multilocus genetic data (9876 loci for n = 110 individuals) to test the hypothesis of hybridization. Our analysis unambiguously characterizes intermediate morphs as F1 or F2 hybrids. We show th

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Castro M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9519950 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature